Antique Haviland Limoges Egg Dish

During the late 1800s, Victorian elite adorned their dining table with some of the most elaborate and unusual porcelain oddities imaginable. I've shown several examples over the past few months, including chocolate pots and turtle soup bowls, but there are so many more so explore. Take for example, this pretty little plate:

This porcelain oddity was manufactured and decorated by Charles Field Haviland of Limoges, France, during the late 1890s. The gently ruffled edge is adorned six, individually-applied, oval egg holders. The plate is decorated with hand painted violets with transfer outlines; the edges burnished with gold. The dish was used for serving deviled eggs, the spicy stuffed savory we still enjoy today.

Egg dishes like the one shown above are available in today's market, but they are not an easy find. If you are looking to buy a similar dish, expect to pay between $150 and $250.